The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.

Environmental Commission gives Walter E. Long Park plan the green light, with conditions

Following the lead of the Parks and Recreation Board, the Environmental Commission unanimously approved the new master plan for East Austin’s Walter E. Long Park. The vote, however, came with a host of conditions. The commissioners expressed concern that the…

Parks • By Jessi Devenyns • Jul 19, 2019

Group pushes Garza to run for county attorney

Council Member Greg Casar and community activists Martha Cotera and Brian McGiverin are leading an effort to encourage Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza to run for Travis County attorney – and to raise campaign funds for her before she officially…

Local Politics • By Jo Clifton • Jul 19, 2019

Austin Energy plans to purchase more wind energy

The Electric Utility Commission unanimously recommended the approval of a new energy contract that would bring Austin Energy’s percentage of renewable energy up to 61 percent by the middle of 2021. That is only 4 percentage points below the City…

Energy • By Jessi Devenyns • Jul 19, 2019

City moving toward greater scrutiny, and possible rent hikes, on nonprofit leases

Nonprofit organizations operating on city properties will likely be expected to put a dollar value on the services they provide to the community, and could face higher rents after years of lease agreements at far below market rate. In May,…

City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 18, 2019

Third time not the charm for River Place case at ZAP

At the end of Milky Way Drive there’s a 42-acre greenbelt buffering the River Place neighborhood from Balcones Canyonlands Preserve. Since 2015, there has been an ongoing debate over how best to develop that tract of land. The latest hearing…

Planning • By Jessi Devenyns • Jul 18, 2019

Opponents plan lawsuit over Hill Country pipeline's impact on endangered birds

A new front has opened in the legal battle against a proposed, 430-mile natural gas pipeline through the Texas Hill Country, focusing on how the project will impact the endangered golden-cheeked warbler. Hays County, the Travis Audubon Society and private…

Courts • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Jul 18, 2019

Subscribe to our newsletter

Subscribe

Travis County approves long-range transportation plan

At long last, Travis County has a long-range transportation plan. The Commissioners Court voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt the Travis County Transportation Blueprint, which lays out a vision for infrastructure in unincorporated parts of Travis County over the next quarter-century.…

Transportation • By Jack Craver • Jul 18, 2019

Despite property tax limits, Travis County remains committed to public defender's office

The Travis County Commissioners Court took another step Tuesday toward creating the county’s first public defender’s office. The court voted 4-1 to provide additional information to a state agency that is considering providing a multimillion-dollar grant to the county to…

Travis County • By Jack Craver • Jul 17, 2019

The heat in Austin could outpace science’s ability to measure it by 2036

This July is on track to be Earth’s hottest month ever recorded. That spike in heat is part of a larger warming trend that could change the way governments and researchers measure extreme temperatures. When it comes to triple-digit days…

Environment • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Jul 17, 2019

Hot race shaping up for Republicans in HD 47

Former Austin City Council Member Don Zimmerman outraised four other Republican candidates vying for the chance to meet Democratic state Rep. Vikki Goodwin in the House District 47 race next year. Zimmerman reported raising nearly $37,700 in his July 15…

Elections • By Jo Clifton • Jul 17, 2019

Electric Utility Commission unanimously declares climate crisis must be addressed

In a unanimous show of hands, the Electric Utility Commission passed a resolution July 15 asserting that the time has come for Austin to declare support for climate change mitigation policies and to adopt its own resolution declaring a climate…

Energy • By Jessi Devenyns • Jul 17, 2019

Save Our Springs backers among major supporters of anti-convention center PAC

Campaign finance reports filed Monday showed that longtime members and financial supporters of the Save Our Springs Alliance have pledged the bulk of the funding that is supporting a political action committee attempting to force a public vote on the…

Local Politics • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 16, 2019

« Previous Page — Next Page »